Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Programs and Events
Posted in Programs and Events on October 8 2013, by Ann Rafalko
It’s October, which means it’s time for pumpkin everything, leaf peeping, and spooky good times, and we can promise you all three at NYBG!
Beginning the weekend of October 18, explore the Garden after dark on four special Spooky Nighttime Adventures in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Use all your senses to explore what happens in the dark. Listen for creepy critters in the leaf litter, thrill to the entertainers greeting you in the Visitor’s Center, decorate your own Halloween gourd to take home, and so much more!
Kids of all ages are encouraged to come in costume to really get into the spirit of the season! Spooky Nighttime Adventures have timed entrances at 6:30 and 7 p.m. on Friday, October 18; Saturday, October 19; Friday, October 25; and Saturday, October 26. If you’re looking to get the party started early, MasterCard cardholders can access special, early entrance tickets that include treats and an exploration of carnivorous plants. Why carnivorous plants? We thought you’d never ask!
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Posted in Programs and Events on October 1 2013, by Ann Rafalko
It’s apple time in the Big Apple, and if my field research is to be believed, 2013 is shaping up to be an epic apple season! The apples I have sampled from the Hudson Valley have been huge, crisp, and packed with flavor. I haven’t even bothered to do anything with them other than eat them out of hand. Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to mess with perfection!
Apples will be in abundance at tomorrow’s free Greenmarket along Tulip Tree Allee from Migliorelli Farm and Red Jacket Orchard. They’ll have other fruits too, including late season plums, pears, juices, and ciders. If vegetables are what you’re after Gajeski Produce and Migliorelli will both be stocked with squash, beans, brassicas, the last of summer’s tomatoes, kale, fennel, herbs, onions, garlic, collard greens, eggplant, and so much more. If you’re craving seasonal baked goods but you’re just too busy—or your tiny apartment kitchen is still just too stuffy—to bake, Meredith’s Bread will help satiate your cravings with pies, tarts, cookies, breads, and jams.
The Greenmarket is always free to visit from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and short term parking is available for those who drive. The market accepts food stamps, EBT, WIC/FMNP, and Senior coupons, in addition to cash and credit or debit cards. Learn how to use EBT, WIC and FMNP at the Greenmarket.
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Posted in Programs and Events on September 27 2013, by Matt Newman
We’re closing out September with a stuffed weekend of on-the-move activities that’ll handily fill your outdoor quota for the week! And because we’re straddling that neutral stretch between the balmy end of summer and the chill of autumn, it’s the perfect time to strike out on a walking tour in one of our inspired collections, brush up on your techniques in the Native Plant Garden, or conquer your phobias with a hands-on introduction to Halloween’s creepiest critters.
But we’ll start you off easy: meet Debbie Becker here at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and bring your binoculars. She’ll be setting out with her weekly group of scrappy birders in search of the avian species that call the NYBG home, as well as those that are just passing through. It’s migratory season for many birds, including some species of warblers, so expect to see some color.
Over in the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions, our friends from local outreach programs will be taking over with the help of spiders, snakes, and at least a few crawly creatures with more legs than could ever seem necessary. But while they may be frightful Halloween symbols to some, most of these insects, reptiles, and amphibians are helpful, industrious, and misunderstood. This is a chance to not only come in contact with these animals from around the globe, but get to know them for the benefits they afford the environment. And that’s only one small part of the ongoing Haunted Pumpkin Garden activities taking place from now through October 31!
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Posted in Programs and Events on September 26 2013, by Matt Newman
I like to think tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, snakes, lizards, and bats are actually the coolest animals in the kingdom, but then again, I was the de facto bug catcher and snake charmer in my neighborhood as a kid; I could be a little biased. Now, for those of you who aren’t entirely keen on making friends with an eight-legged arthropod in an everyday setting, Halloween brings up a handful of opportunities to challenge your fears and jump in on a little creepy-crawly education.
On weekends throughout October, the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions transform into a showcase of legs, wings, and scaly things as experts from local outreach programs introduce the creatures from around the world that, for some, inspire no end of the proverbial willies. The thing is, most of them are not only perfectly friendly, but beyond fascinating. These hands-on animal presentations might even put a dent in the thrill of watching B-movie creature flicks for some of you, especially once you’ve gotten to know the scorpions, giant millipedes, spiders and boa constrictors that you might otherwise run from.
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Posted in Programs and Events on September 24 2013, by Matt Newman
And with one last huff of warmth, summer bows out. We’re early into the sea change of fall now, with its arch gusts and leaf color, and with it comes the Greenmarket‘s flavorful turn toward ripe apple harvests and cider by the gallon. The apple cider donuts? Equally, mind-bendingly tasty.
The steady march toward the market’s end in November means popular October picks like watermelon (the harvest in our area is generally September and October, which might be a surprise for summer lovers) and grapes. It’s the peak of Brussels sprouts season and a good time for collard greens, kale, fennel, lima beans, and eggplant. Parsnips are a good bet, too.
And who could forget behemoth pumpkins? Pears should be seeing the tail end of their harvest about now, and same goes for raspberries (though the latter may continue for as long as we can stave off the first frost).
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Posted in Programs and Events on September 20 2013, by Matt Newman
Summer bows out this weekend as we pack away our sandals, margaritas, sunscreen and park picnics and ready the scarf-and-peacoat ensembles. Officially, the first day of autumn is this Sunday. And nothing screams the merits of fall like jack-o’-lanterns, scarecrows, bugs, bats, and snakes, right? Emphasis on the “scream,” though it’s all in good fun!
Saturday is the opening day of The Haunted Pumpkin Garden, so of course we’re doing things big with spooky Halloween events and activities in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden and the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions, to start. You’re welcome to sit in on an expert carving as gourds become ghouls in the Discovery Center, or interact with some of the skittering, slithering creatures that make the holiday what it is in the pavilions.
Elsewhere in the Garden, we’re all about demos. Our gardeners for public education will be on deck in the Home Gardening Center with enlightening how-tos on the late-season, under-the-radar beauties known as salvias. And in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, we’re all about cooking demonstrations with seasonal, fresh-picked edibles twice a day on Saturday and Sunday. It should give those of you joining us for Saturday night’s Family Dinner with Mario Batali’s Chefs a tasty glimpse into the coming feast.
Toward the close of Saturday afternoon, you’ll also want to make your way toward the Perennial Garden, where poets Patricia Carlin, Adam Fitzgerald, and John Murillo will recite classic verse and original works to give these summer nights a proper send-off.
The coming months promise a cornucopia of new events and exhibitions, so stay tuned!
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Posted in Programs and Events on September 18 2013, by Matt Newman
When monster masks, vampire make-up, and shuffling the kids around the neighborhood with candy-laden pillow cases won’t cut it anymore, it’s time to step up your Halloween game! And this weekend, starting September 21, The New York Botanical Garden does exactly that. We’re launching into one of our favorite holidays a little early this year with a Haunted Pumpkin Garden full of creepy, crawly events and activities, and there’ll be no shortage of spiders, bats, snakes and jack-o’-lanterns here to make your twilight adventures frightfully memorable.
No, seriously—we’ll be showcasing actual bugs and bats. Why would we miss an opportunity like that?!
Check out the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden this Saturday for the return of intricately carved pumpkin sculptures, parades, and more. Your little ones will have free reign to play in our “gourd-geous” Pumpkin House (no pun apologies here) and put on a show in our Pumpkin Puppet Theater. Or, if they’re especially daring, they can join some of our Discovery Center staff on the hunt for wriggling earthworms under rotting logs. And on Saturday and Sunday at 12 and 2 p.m., we’ll be joining our friends from The Nature of Things at the Clay Family Picnic Pavilions for live animal presentations featuring the “stuff of nightmares,” creatures that really aren’t so terrifying if you give them a chance—in fact, these lizards, tarantulas, and sneaky snakes can be downright cute.
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Posted in Programs and Events on September 17 2013, by Matt Newman
The crisp bite in the air tells us fall is hoofing it over the horizon, but the apple cider donuts (the porch lamp to our proverbial moths, so to speak) at our Greenmarket really drive home the point. If you’re looking for something to do with your Wednesday morning, look no further than our Mosholu Gate, where several of the region’s most respected producers join us each Wednesday to offer fruits, vegetables, juices, sauces, fresh-baked treats, and just about anything you wish your CSA care packages included more of.
Recent highlights among the heaps of fresh-picked produce include a vibrant spectrum of peppers, from cayenne and sweet to white, blue, and hot cherry, while corn, chives, kale, Swiss chard, fennel, turnips, and parsnips cover the tables elsewhere. Tomatoes are also in top form, from hefty heirlooms to pickable, poppable cherry varieties. Macintosh and Paula apples lead the pack alongside peaches and plums, and Concord grapes have made a showing in recent weeks as well, with plenty of fruit juices and ciders to boot. And if you’re still in back yard barbecue mode, you should still see watermelons by the boxful when you join us tomorrow. Don’t forget to grab some pies on the way out!
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Posted in Mario Batali's Edible Garden on September 16 2013, by Matt Newman
At first I set out to tease you (not maliciously!) with menu selections from this Saturday’s upcoming Family Dinner featuring Chef “Dodo” Fortunato Nicotra of Felidia, one of Mario Batali‘s trusted culinary masterminds. But then it came to my attention that this week’s evening is ALMOST sold out! Not to worry, though—you can still get tickets for Saturday if you rush, but even if you aren’t able to land tickets to this weekend’s event, there’s still one more opportunity on the horizon for gourmands with an appetite in tow. And one more opportunity for me to tease you, I suppose.
On Sunday, September 29, we’re firing up the grills in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden for one last seasonal gourmet gathering. This time around we’ll be spotlighting dishes and demonstrations from the dynamic duo of Chef Dan Drohan of Otto Enoteca Pizzeria and Chef Josh Laurano of Tarry Market.
Before dinner, kids and parents alike are invited to join Family Garden staff in the vegetable beds for hands-on gardening and craft activities, after which we’ll jump straight into preparation with an expert cooking demonstration by our visiting chefs. Save room for cavolo nero and ricotta salad, agnolotti al forno with swiss chard and pecorino, sweet potato and walnut budino, as well as paired wines and more. Trust me—you’ll leave well-fed.
For more info on upcoming menus and getting your tickets, visit our Edible Garden page. Though I’d suggest registering soon—judging by September 21’s dwindling tickets, the one taking place on the 29th should fill up quickly as well. Don’t miss these last opportunities to enjoy the flavors of summer with Mario Batali’s finest!
Photo courtesy of Andrea House.
Posted in Programs and Events on September 13 2013, by Matt Newman
The Garden goes to the birds this weekend with outdoor activities geared toward the wildlife lover in all of us (you’ll get a pass if you have an ongoing feud with pigeons—that’s almost rote for any New Yorker). And because it just so happens to be migratory season for a number of bird species, the timing couldn’t be better. So bring your binoculars, your kids, and an open mind toward gardening for critters, because we’ll be making room for all three over the next couple of days.
For birders new or established, Debbie Becker is back after a brief summer hiatus with Bird Walks each Saturday at 11 a.m. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for the colorful puffballs known as warblers that should be making pit stops in the Garden during their fall migration. In the Native Plant Garden, we’ll have experts on hand teaching home gardeners the ins and outs of attracting wildlife—such as beneficial insects—to backyard beds. And in among the vegetables of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, kids are welcome to dig to their hearts’ content during activities that highlight the hands-on aspects of keeping a garden. Our Pollinator Pals program also highlights the importance of the bees and butterflies that pollinate our crops.
Also on offer are Native Plant Garden and Rose Garden Tours, cooking demonstrations highlighting fresh seasonal ingredients, and more. And don’t forget that there’s only one week left to get tickets for next weekend’s Family Garden with Mario Batali’s Chefs! Check the full listing below, and we’ll see you out there.
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